Maryland Families

Former Republican candidate for Comptroller of Maryland released the following statement this afternoon about Gov. Martin O'Malley's proposed gas tax increase: In 2010, I spoke openly about the reckless prospect of raising gasoline taxes here in Maryland. Unfortunately, our representatives in Annapolis failed to listen, and have embarked upon a path to raising the gas tax here in Maryland. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that a gas tax hike is a bad deal for Maryland families and job creators.

We have heard for the past few days that the budget impasse in the state legislature will cause a "doomsday" budget to go into effect July 1 ("Schools, localities face the unknown," April 12). Examination of the state budgets shows that the so called "doomsday" budget totals $35.3 billion, down from a proposed budget for next year of $35.8 billion. So "doomsday" means the government will have to reduce its proposed budget by 1.4 percent or the roof will cave in. And take note of the fact that the expected spending level for the state this year is $34.8 billion!

In response to The Sun's suggestion that Maryland should raise its gas tax to pay for infrastructure ("The tax that saves jobs," Nov. 10), I shop the specials at the Giant in order to save 20 to 30 cents a gallon at the pump. My friends and family are currently unemployed for the last year, had their salaries reduced 20 to 50 percent (not through furlough days) or make salaries less than a "living wage," according to City Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke's standards. These are the people on whom The Sun wants to raise taxes.

Updated: With quotes from Garagioa and O'Malley.  The state's top Democrat will weigh into one of the most competitive primary election in Maryland on Thursday. Gov.Martin O'Malleywill back state Sen. Rob Garagiola in his bid to capture the nomination in the 6th Congressional District, a significant get for a candidate who has faced a stronger than expected challenge from Potomac banker John Delaney late in the campaign. The endorsement comes nearly four months after Garagiola received the backing of Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown and it arrives at a potentially critical time for his campaign.

We have heard for the past few days that the budget impasse in the state legislature will cause a "doomsday" budget to go into effect July 1 ("Schools, localities face the unknown," April 12). Examination of the state budgets shows that the so called "doomsday" budget totals $35.3 billion, down from a proposed budget for next year of $35.8 billion. So "doomsday" means the government will have to reduce its proposed budget by 1.4 percent or the roof will cave in. And take note of the fact that the expected spending level for the state this year is $34.8 billion!

By now, many of the deadlines have passed for scholarship-hunting college students. But don't despair: Maryland families still have one week to apply for aid from Central Scholarship Bureau, a nonprofit that's adding scholarships thanks to some recent donations. The Pikesville group, which makes grants and interest-free student loans to Marylanders, last month received pledges for two sizable gifts to create more scholarships. That was on top of smaller donations earlier this year that established four scholarships.

IF THE AMERICAN family were in healthier shape -- fewer divorces, fewer custody cases to resolve, fewer child support payments to collect, fewer children in need of foster care or adoption -- Maryland's current judicial structure might not prove such a heavy burden on so many of its citizens.But the fact is that 50 percent of many court dockets in Maryland involve domestic cases and, all too often, the families have to stand in a long line for judicial attention -- thus stringing out what is already a painfully extended and confusing crisis.

Marni loves her sparkly pink flip-flops and the daily school lessons with her host family. Soon after he arrived on a flight from Ethiopia, Sammy switched his dress shoes for a pair of trendy Nikes that he wears everywhere. Isaac has accessorized with cool sunglasses and is teaching his hosts dance moves. After dental and eye check-ups, Betty is sporting a brighter smile and a new pair of glasses. Five young children, ages 6 to 9, are the first visitors to participate in Welcoming Angels, a new international orphan hosting program, organized by America World Adoption to assist Ethiopian children.

John L. Kellermann III, a Parkinson's disease sufferer who played a major role in the passage by the state legislature in 2006 of the Maryland Stem Cell Research Act and also served as a founding member of the stem cell research commission, died Monday of pancreatic cancer at his Ocean City summer home. The longtime Loch Raven Village resident was 56. Mr. Kellermann was 38 years old and a vice president of the old First National Bank of Maryland when he noticed a twitch in two fingers of his left hand.

Rising prices and an uncertain job market are taking a toll on families struggling to pay for higher education. The tough economic times are reflected in the number of Maryland students applying for financial aid, which jumped 19 percent overall during the first six months of this year. Affordability is a big issue in the choice of which school to attend, and many students are settling on nearby state colleges and universities where tuition and living costs are lower. At the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, for example, the freshman class is about 100 students larger this year than last; tuition there is less than half that of a comparable private university.

In less than 200 years, the free market and respect for individual liberty took this nation from a rough frontier to a global economic superpower. Today, however, state-level economies are clearly headed in the wrong direction, with the negative consequences of their actions being placed squarely on the backs of Americans. As Marylanders, we have a battle in front of us that will literally cost us billions. Unfortunately, our state has decided to respond to a tough economy with back-breaking tax increases and various regulatory controls.

A family of three in Baltimore County needs about $62,000 just to make ends meet, a new report shows. And, without government assistance, minimum wage barely gets them a quarter of the way there. In Baltimore City, that same family of an adult with a preschooler and a school-age child needs nearly $50,000, the report said, for a bare-bones budget. The 2012 Self-Sufficiency Standard, scheduled to be released in Annapolis on Thursday morning, calculates the cost of living for Maryland families based on prices of such necessities as housing, food, transportation and child care.

Vincent DeMarco's praise of Gov.Martin O'Malleyand the Affordable Care Act (aka ObamaCare) omitted several key facts and restated a few false impacts of the law ("Health exchanges benefit Md. families," Feb. 16). Twenty-seven states are opposed to the health care law because they do not want the federal government mandating health insurance in their states, and they cannot afford to add millions of new Medicaid recipients. In Maryland we do not see this as an issue because our Democratic legislature and governor will simply raise taxes (again!

It's no wonder Maryland families are so hard pressed to find good, affordable health insurance - premiums have outpaced earnings, and the field of insurance options is confusing. Even if a family is fortunate enough to have coverage, it's hard to know if what you're paying for is going to be there for you when you need it. That's why our Health Care for All Coalition is so excited about Gov.Martin O'Malley's health care bill (SB 238). By setting up a competitive insurance marketplace for private health insurance, also known as an exchange, this bill will give Marylanders more choice, more control and more peace of mind about their health care.

Odds are, there's no better bet Maryland can make than funding high-quality public pre-kindergarten programs. It's a winning hand for the state because pre-K has been shown to pay for itself many times over in the form of higher tax revenues, reduced social service costs and lower rates of incarceration. Yet, it's unclear how many takers there will be for a proposal to fund expanded access to public pre-K by legalizing table games at Maryland's slots sites. The idea is included in a package of bills expected to be taken up by the General Assembly this year that would give every child in the state access to high-quality, public pre-K programs.

By Maryland law, for the merger of Exelon and Constellation Energy to be permissible, it must be shown to cause no harm, and to benefit Baltimore Gas & Electric ratepayers and the public interest. Because, to date, Exelon has yet to offer a proposal that sufficiently meets these three thresholds, my administration cannot support the merger at this time. While the state of Maryland stands to lose 600 jobs post-merger, Constellation executives stand to make $34 million off the transaction.

Snowstorms were once a cause for celebration at the Thaden house on Anne Arundel County's southern coast. Dad, Jim, would get a fire going and mom, Eileen, would bake cookies and heat up a pot of chili. Daughters Bonnie, 16, and Katie, 13, might have friends over to build snow forts in the family's ample yard. The day would conclude with movies or board games in a toasty den. But last weekend's snowstorm invited dread and boredom. Would the pipes freeze? Would it be too cold to do anything but wrap yourself in a comforter and go to sleep?

Odds are, there's no better bet Maryland can make than funding high-quality public pre-kindergarten programs. It's a winning hand for the state because pre-K has been shown to pay for itself many times over in the form of higher tax revenues, reduced social service costs and lower rates of incarceration. Yet, it's unclear how many takers there will be for a proposal to fund expanded access to public pre-K by legalizing table games at Maryland's slots sites. The idea is included in a package of bills expected to be taken up by the General Assembly this year that would give every child in the state access to high-quality, public pre-K programs.

Former Republican candidate for Comptroller of Maryland released the following statement this afternoon about Gov. Martin O'Malley's proposed gas tax increase: In 2010, I spoke openly about the reckless prospect of raising gasoline taxes here in Maryland. Unfortunately, our representatives in Annapolis failed to listen, and have embarked upon a path to raising the gas tax here in Maryland. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that a gas tax hike is a bad deal for Maryland families and job creators.

The family of a Maryland man who died of listeria is suing the Colorado melon farm that grew cantaloupes linked to a nationwide outbreak of the deadly bacteria. The family of Clarence D. Wells, who died in August, filed the lawsuit against Jensen Farms and Frontera Produce in U.S. District Court on Friday, according to court records. The family could not be reached for comment Friday. Wells ate cantaloupe on several occasions during the weeks before his death, court documents said.